LAHORE, June 5: River water shortage in the country has declined by 13 per cent as a result of recent rains and high temperatures.

A 44 per cent shortage had been projected for the early Kharif season — up to June 10. Improved river flows have, however, had brought the figure down to 31 per cent by May 31. Should the trend continue the overall Kharif shortage might come down from 22 per cent to 15 per cent. Last year, the shortage in the month of May had been 48 per cent.

On Wednesday, the flow in Indus at Tarbela was 179,100 cusecs. Out of it, 148,300 cusecs was released for irrigation and 30,800 cusecs stored in the lake. The lake level stood at 1,397.02 feet against its dead level of 1,369 feet. By Tuesday, the lake had stored 0.443 million acre feet water against its available capacity of 7.2 MAF. Last year, the dam had 0.078 MAF by June 4 and the outflow was only 100,200 cusecs. The Indus River System Authority normally starts filling the lake after mid-June after taking care of the early Kharif sowing. This year, however, it has already started filling the lake.

River Jhelum had an inflow of 50,200 cusecs at Mangla. Out of this, 35,000 cusecs was released and 15,200 cusecs stored in the lake. The Mangla lake on Wednesday stood at 1,163.5 feet against its dead level of 1,040 feet. By Tuesday, the lake had stored 2.518 MAF. Its current storage capacity is 4.64 MAF. Last year, it had stored only 0.955 MAF in the corresponding period and had an outflow of only 10,000 cusecs on June 4.

But the main contribution in reducing the water shortage has come from Rivers Kabul and Chenab. On Wednesday, River Kabul’s flow at Nowshera was a healthy 62,400 cusecs. Last year, the flow had been 41,700 cusecs. The flow in River Chenab at Marala on Wednesday was 53,000 cusecs.

The combined river flow on Wednesday was 344,700 cusecs. Out of this, 64,800 cusecs was stored and 279,900 cusecs released for irrigation.

Flows at barrages improved accordingly. Jinnah Barrage received 205,800 cusecs and released 198,300 cusecs, Chashma Barrage received 187,800 cusecs and released 170,000 cusecs, Taunsa Barrage received 119,400 cusecs and released 92,600, Guddu Barrage received 81,100 cusecs and released 64,100 cusecs, Sukkur Barrage received 61,000 cusecs and released 30,100 cusecs and Kotri Barrage received 13,000 cusecs and stored all of it.

An Irrigation and Power Department official said the trend showed that by the end of September the country would be in a very comfortable position in terms of irrigation supplies. The Punjab, he said, had received 6.66 MAF water up by May 31 out of its share of 9.59 MAF. Last year, it had received only 4.947 MAF during the same period, suffering a 48 per cent shortfall in terms of Para 14(b) of the 1991 Water Accord.